De Marchi was elated having tried several times in vain to win a stage
during last month’s Tour de France.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment,” the Italian told Spanish television
station TVE.

“Today I managed to find the opening and I had a bit of luck. I came to
this Vuelta without pressure, taking it day by day.”

On what was supposed to be a transitional stage ahead of Sunday’s first big
mountain challenge, there were some worrying moments, most notably when last
year’s Tour winner Chris Froome went down early on.

Although the British Team Sky leader seemed to hurt his leg, the peloton
sat up for him and he easily rejoined the pack.

And he even took back a couple of seconds on Valverde in the sprint finish
as he came home seventh.

He remains fourth although now just 20sec behind the Spanish Movistar rider.

Colombian Giro d’Italia champion Nairo Quintana, Valverde’s teammate and
overall favourite, is second at 15sec with two-time former Vuelta winner
Alberto Contador third at 18sec.

Young French climber Warren Barguil, thought by many as a potential future
Tour champion, was another to hit the deck.

However, as the 22-year-old Giant-Shimano leader’s crash came in the final
few kilometres, he was not penalised by any time loss and stays ninth at just
over a minute.

Saturday’s 207km flat stage from Baeza to Albacete is one for the sprinters.

Tour of Spain results and standings
after Friday’s seventh stage, a 169.0km ride from Alhendín to Alcaudete on
Friday: